This page describes how to customize the content tree: https://doc.sitecore.net/sitecore_experience_platform/80/content_authoring/the_editing_tools/the_content_editor/customize_the_content_editor

You can hide the Content tree, Entire tree, Hidden items, Standard fields, Raw values and Buckets.

How can I configure these for a specific role?

When a new user gets created with that specific role, by default I want him to have the 'Entire tree' disabled.

My guess is to override a Pipeline somewhere...